business

Denver businesses gird for debate road closures and traffic jams

Trevor Jacques, who delivers for the Black Jack Pizza location at 2075 S. University Blvd, near the University of Denver, will face extra challenges if franchise owner Teresa Warfield decides to open Wednesday in spite of street and freeway closures. (Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post)

Pizza delivery and presidential campaign debates do not, it appears, make good bedfellows.

Blackjack Pizza franchise owner Teresa Warfield is facing the formidable challenge of delivering pies to her University of Denver-area customers while nearby streets are closed or gridlocked.

"While they debate on how to help the small-business owner, they're effectively shutting down my small business," Warfield said. "Do you appreciate the irony there?"

She said she will "attempt" to open the pizzeria at 2075 S. University Blvd. on Wednesday, "but we're just anticipating it will be a huge mess."

Nearby, The Denver Shop, a seller of skateboards, won't even try to open Wednesday.

"It's just not worth it for me," said owner Tony Melick. "They've closed the parking lots for me and my customers. Nobody can get here."

University Boulevard will be closed in the DU area from 5 to 10 p.m. Also, Interstate 25 will be closed during those hours from Santa Fe Drive to Hampden Avenue. Traffic officials expect a number of other streets and highways will be jammed with detoured motorists.

Many Denver-area businesses said they will allow employees to work from home Wednesday, or leave work before the road closures take effect.

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Zach McNamara, a graphic artist for kidney dialysis firm DaVita, said that working from his south metro-Denver home will eliminate transit worries and allow him to put in a couple of extra work hours.

He typically commutes by light rail, "but even that's going to be a mess because everybody will try to use it," he said.

Starz Entertainment said it will close its Douglas County headquarters at 3 p.m. to give workers a chance to avoid traffic jams. CoBank in the Denver Tech Center will dismiss employees who live north of the bank headquarters at 3 p.m.

Some businesses near DU said the street closures may attract more customers on foot.

Jordan's Bistro & Pub at Evans Avenue and University is holding a debate-viewing party and will feature drink specials all night

Will O'Neil, general manager of ZaZa's Pizzeria at 2041 S. University, said success is all in the preparation.

"We have been thoroughly preparing for the debate to make it a success," he said.

O'Neil said he has reached out to Obama campaign staffers to drop by the restaurant.

As for pizza delivery, O'Neil has a secret strategy.

"All of my delivery drivers know the back roads really well," he said. "The side streets that I've trained them on are not generally traveled much. I am staying optimistic, but we won't really know until the time hits."

Staff writers David Migoya, Aldo Svaldi and Andy Vuong contributed to this report.

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